Bobby Bench has memories of being bat boy for Larkin, Reds

Bobby Bench jokingly blames soon-to-be Baseball Hall of Famer Barry Larkin for one of his first concussions.

Bench, the 22-year-old son of Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench, volunteered as a bat boy for the Cincinnati Reds in the late 1990s and went to spring training in Florida while his dad helped mentor the Reds.

A big kid for his age, Bobby Bench – who now stands 6 feet, 8 inches – used the largest available youth-size helmet during his bat boy duties. During one spring training game when he was about 8 or 9 years old, the helmet went missing, so he went about his business without one.

With Larkin at the plate and Bench attending to his duties, the Reds shortstop fouled off a pitch that went screaming into the dugout, hitting Bobby Bench in the back of the head.

He would be OK.

“Obviously, he didn’t intend to do it,” Bobby Bench said with a laugh. “He (came) back in and made sure I was OK. I always think it’s funny to say, ‘Barry Larkin almost knocked me out.’”

Bench plans to attend Larkin’s induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the Clark Sports Center in Cooperstown. Former Chicago Cubs third baseman and broadcaster Ron Santo, who died in December 2010, also is being inducted.

Larkin was named the 1995 National League’s Most Valuable Player and was a 12-time All-Star, accumulating 2,340 hits, 1,329 runs and 960 RBIs in 19 seasons. He also won three Gold Gloves and nine Silver Slugger awards. He helped the Reds win the World Series in 1990.

Bobby Bench said his dad is sure that if Larkin had been used differently in the lineup throughout his career, he would have finished with better numbers.

“My dad has said ability-wise (Larkin) could have been so much more,” Bench said. “He said because of the way he was used and the role they put him in, his numbers turned out the way they did.”

Bench, who recently graduated from Boston University with a degree in film and television, called Larkin a “class act.”

“He was always one of the team leaders. He was always helpful and supportive. … When I was a bat boy, he would teach me about baseball.”

That, in turn, helped fuel Bench’s love for the game. He readily admits growing up the son of a Hall of Fame catcher wasn’t easy, but modeled his game after Larkin and the likes of former Reds players Sean Casey and Aaron Boone.

“They were always respectful and enjoyed the game,” Bench said. “Barry was dedicated. He never felt like he was (automatically) going to the Hall of Fame. He was playing to get into the Hall of Fame.”

Page 2 of 2 -
Bench said he’s excited for the trip to Cooperstown to see the star shortstop — who played his entire major league career in Cincinnati — inducted.

But it’s not the first time Bench has been to the Hall of Fame. His mom was pregnant with him when his dad was inducted in 1989. He’s been back countless time. This time, though, is more special. And he’s anticipating a large crowd of Reds fans in Cooperstown for Larkin.

“I know my dad and guys like (Hall of Famers) Joe Morgan and Tony Pérez are excited for it,” he said. “They were a generation apart as far as playing, but he’s a guy from their team.”

Bench, who has seen Larkin a few times since he was a bat boy, has one goal this weekend. He has a picture that was taken a few years ago at spring training in which he’s standing with Larkin and Ken Griffey Jr. Bench is hoping Larkin will sign his side of the photo and wants to get Griffey’s autograph when he’s inducted. Griffey is eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2016.

“I think the picture has more meaning if it is personalized,” Bench said.